The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce will host its Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night on Monday, Nov. 16, at The Grand Theater in downtown Wausau. Doors open at 5 p.m., the program starts at 6 p.m., and a reception with appetizers follows in the Great Hall. Tickets are $75 and the event is open to the public.
Mary Jo Johnson, chief executive and owner of EO Johnson Business Technologies, will receive the James J. McIntyre Cornerstone Award. Johnson returned to the region in 1985 to work at her father's company, took its top leadership role in 1999, and helped grow it to ten locations across three states as a leader in information technology.
The G. Lane Ware Innovator Award goes to the Grebe's family, whose Wausau business has operated under the family name since 1946. Current owners Steve and Suzi Richetto returned to Wausau in 1994 to join the business, which marks its 80th year this year.
Attorney Dean Dietrich of Weld Riley will receive the Liz Tillisch Heart of the Chamber Award. Dietrich is a former president of the State Bar of Wisconsin, has served the chamber and other nonprofits in a range of roles, and was the first local male recipient of the ATHENA Award.
The night also marks the 41st ATHENA Leadership Award in Wausau, one of the longest-running ATHENA programs in the country. This year's finalists are Samantha Diedrich, JoAnn Draeger, Nicole Gaiche, Linda Koepke and Erika Van De Yacht.
